Robyn Treyvaud

Primary: Words won’t hurt

Bullying hurts most when it happens all the

time and more and more people get involved.

What’s the issue? Advice

Most online bullies are offline bullies too. Bullies
Tell someone you trust
often choose any small difference or something
they think the person is concerned about as an • Talk to someone you trust to help you
excuse for bullying. work out some strategies to stop the
With social media sites being accessible all day bullies impacting on you. Go beyond just
and night, it can feel like there is no safe place to your friends and ask older siblings or
escape from the bullying. trusted adults to help and support you.

Why does it matter? Take action: get evidence of the bullying

• Print out or make a copy of texts and

• Bullying often has long-term negative effects on
screendumps so that you can show a
people’s well being emotionally and physically.
trusted adult what is happening. This
• Sometimes when other people are doing
will support your explanation of more
something you feel like it is ok for you to
sneaky bullying like whispered insults
do it too, bullies love an audience and
and things like deliberate bumping.
to get other people involved, but this
• Get help! You deserve to feel safe
makes it much worse for the victim.
and to make your own choices.
• It is even easier to spread lies and rumours
• Use privacy settings to lock out
through social media than face-to-face.
people you don’t trust or like
• It is hard to stay connected to friends when
• Bullies love to make you change your
it means that bullies can get to you too.
behaviours, and they would like to cut you
• Research shows that boys most often bully
off from other people. Don’t let them!
other boys and girls tend to bully girls but
when a boy bullies a girl (or vice-versa) it can
have a very strong impact because tweens
and adolescents are still developing and
changing so much physically and emotionally.

Advice Sheets: Primary: Words won’t hurt | © 2013 | Department of Education and Training | Robyn Treyvaud - Internet Safety Consultant